How to fool a virgin: Artificial dealation triggers oviposition in virgin Lasius niger queens

Once inseminated, ant queens rapidly shed their wings and start to lay eggs. Here we test whether there is a causal link between dealation and oviposition in the ant Lasius niger. We show that artificially dealated virgin queens start to lay eggs shortly after wing removal, whereas winged virgin queens hardly ever lay eggs. Dealate virgins do, however, produce fewer eggs than mated queens. These findings indicate that dealation does induce egg-laying, and that other factors, such as mating and/or insemination, further stimulate oviposition under natural conditions

How to fool a virgin: Artificial dealation triggers oviposition in virgin Lasius niger queens

Abstract.: Once inseminated, ant queens rapidly shed their wings and start to lay eggs. Here we test whether there is a causal link between dealation and oviposition in the ant Lasius niger. We show that artificially dealated virgin queens start to lay eggs shortly after wing removal, whereas winged virgin queens hardly ever lay eggs. Dealate virgins do, however, produce fewer eggs than mated queens. These findings indicate that dealation does induce egg-laying, and that other factors, such as mating and/or insemination, further stimulate oviposition under natural condition

TIM-family Proteins Promote Infection of Multiple Enveloped Viruses through Virion-associated Phosphatidylserine

Human T-cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin-domain containing proteins (TIM1, 3, and 4) specifically bind phosphatidylserine (PS). TIM1 has been proposed to serve as a cellular receptor for hepatitis A virus and Ebola virus and as an entry factor for dengue virus. Here we show that TIM1 promotes infection of retroviruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) pseudotyped with a range of viral entry proteins, in particular those from the filovirus, flavivirus, New World arenavirus and alphavirus families. TIM1 also robustly enhanced the infection of replication-competent viruses from the same families, including dengue, Tacaribe, Sindbis and Ross River viruses. All interactions between TIM1 and pseudoviruses or VLPs were PS-mediated, as demonstrated with liposome blocking and TIM1 mutagenesis experiments. In addition, other PS-binding proteins, such as Axl and TIM4, promoted infection similarly to TIM1. Finally, the blocking of PS receptors on macrophages inhibited the entry of Ebola VLPs, suggesting that PS receptors can contribute to infection in physiologically relevant cells. Notably, infection mediated by the entry proteins of Lassa fever virus, influenza A virus and SARS coronavirus was largely unaffected by TIM1 expression. Taken together our data show that TIM1 and related PS-binding proteins promote infection of diverse families of enveloped viruses, and may therefore be useful targets for broad-spectrum antiviral therapies

Predictive value of systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for complex coronary artery disease occurrence in patients presenting with angina equivalent symptoms

Background: Currently, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality world-wide. Inflammatory processes are postulated to be a major driving force for coronary plaque initiation and progression and can be evaluated by simple inflammatory markers from whole blood count analysis. Among hematological indexes, systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) is defined as a quotient of neutrophils and monocytes, divided by lymphocyte count. The aim of the present retrospective analysis was to present the predictive role of SIRI for coronary artery disease (CAD) occurrence. Methods: There were 256 patients (174 [68%] men and 82 [32%] women) in the median (Q1–Q3) age of 67 (58–72) years enrolled into retrospective analysis due to angina pectoris equivalent symptoms. A model for predicting CAD was created based on demographic data and blood cell parameters reflecting an inflammatory response. Results: In patients with single/complex coronary disease the logistic regression multivariable analysis revealed predictive value of male gender (odds ratio [OR]: 3.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38–11.42, p = 0.010), age (OR: 5.57, 95% CI: 0.83–0.98, p = 0.001), body mass index (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81–0.98, p = 0.012), and smoking (OR: 3.66, 95% CI: 1.71–18.22, p = 0.004). Among laboratory parameters, SIRI (OR: 5.52, 95% CI: 1.89–16.15, p = 0.029) and red blood cell distribution width (OR: 3.66, 95% CI: 1.67–8.04, p = 0.001) were found significant. Conclusions: Systemic inflammatory response index, a simple hematological index, may be helpful in patients with angina equivalent symptoms to diagnose CAD. Patients presenting with SIRI above 1.22 (area under the curve: 0.725, p < 0.001) have a higher probability of single and complex coronary disease

mRNAs containing the histone 3' stem-loop are degraded primarily by decapping mediated by oligouridylation of the 3' end

Metazoan replication-dependent histone mRNAs are only present in S-phase, due partly to changes in their stability. These mRNAs end in a unique stem–loop (SL) that is required for both translation and cell-cycle regulation. Previous studies showed that histone mRNA degradation occurs through both 5′→3′ and 3′→5′ processes, but the relative contributions are not known. The 3′ end of histone mRNA is oligouridylated during its degradation, although it is not known whether this is an essential step. We introduced firefly luciferase reporter mRNAs containing the histone 3′ UTR SL (Luc-SL) and either a normal or hDcp2-resistant cap into S-phase HeLa cells. Both mRNAs were translated, and translation initially protected the mRNAs from degradation, but there was a lag of ∼40 min with the uncleavable cap compared to ∼8 min for the normal cap before rapid decay. Knockdown of hDcp2 resulted in a similar longer lag for Luc-SL containing a normal cap, indicating that 5′→3′ decay is important in this system. Inhibition of DNA replication with hydroxyurea accelerated the degradation of Luc-SL. Knockdown of terminal uridyltransferase (TUTase) 4 but not TUTase 3 slowed the decay process, but TUTase 4 knockdown had no effect on destabilization of the mRNA by hydroxyurea. Both Luc-SL and its 5′ decay intermediates were oligouridylated. Preventing oligouridylation by 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) addition to the mRNA slowed degradation, in the presence or absence of hydroxyurea, suggesting oligouridylation initiates degradation. The spectrum of oligouridylated fragments suggests the 3′→5′ degradation machinery stalls during initial degradation, whereupon reuridylation occurs

Predictive role of monocyte count for significant coronary artery disease identification in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Background: The coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of morbidity that is characterized by broad spectrum of symptoms. Up to 30% of performed angiographies reveal normal coronary arteries. The aim of the study was to find simple predictor for significant epicardial artery stenosis among patients with chronic coronary syndrome. Methods: There were 187 patients (131 (709%) men and 56 (30%) women) in the median (Q1–Q3) age of 67 [58–72] presenting with stable CAD symptoms enrolled into the present retrospective analysis. The demographical, clinical and laboratory characteristics between patients with normal and significant coronary artery stenosis were compared. Results: The multivariable analysis revealed coexistence of hypercholesterolemia as significant differentiation factor (odds ratio [OR]: 4.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.78–10.80, p = 0.001) for significant CAD and inverse relation to serum high density lipoprotein (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.72, p = 0.015) and relation to creatinine concentration (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.05, p = 0.012). Among whole peripheral blood count analysis, the significant relation was noticed to be hemoglobin concentration (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.10–1.18, p = 0.022) and monocyte count (OR: 32.3, 95% CI: 1.09–653.6, p = 0.017). Receiver operator curve revealed (AUC: 0.641, p = 0.001) with the optimal cut-off value above 0.45 K/uL for monocyte, yelding sensitivity of 81.82% and specificity of 58.06%. Conclusions: The peripheral monocyte count above 0.45 k/uL may be considered as a predictor of significant coronary artery disease in symptomatic patients with chronic coronary syndrome

Short Telomeres in Hatchling Snakes: Erythrocyte Telomere Dynamics and Longevity in Tropical Pythons

Telomere length (TL) has been found to be associated with life span in birds and humans. However, other studies have demonstrated that TL does not affect survival among old humans. Furthermore, replicative senescence has been shown to be induced by changes in the protected status of the telomeres rather than the loss of TL. In the present study we explore whether age- and sex-specific telomere dynamics affect life span in a long-lived snake, the water python (Liasis fuscus)

Sex Differences in Sand Lizard Telomere Inheritance: Paternal Epigenetic Effects Increases Telomere Heritability and Offspring Survival

To date, the only estimate of the heritability of telomere length in wild populations comes from humans. Thus, there is a need for analysis of natural populations with respect to how telomeres evolve.Here, we show that telomere length is heritable in free-ranging sand lizards, Lacerta agilis. More importantly, heritability estimates analysed within, and contrasted between, the sexes are markedly different; son-sire heritability is much higher relative to daughter-dam heritability. We assess the effect of paternal age on Telomere Length (TL) and show that in this species, paternal age at conception is the best predictor of TL in sons. Neither paternal age per se at blood sampling for telomere screening, nor corresponding age in sons impact TL in sons. Processes maintaining telomere length are also associated with negative fitness effects, most notably by increasing the risk of cancer and show variation across different categories of individuals (e.g. males vs. females). We therefore tested whether TL influences offspring survival in their first year of life. Indeed such effects were present and independent of sex-biased offspring mortality and offspring malformations.TL show differences in sex-specific heritability with implications for differences between the sexes with respect to ongoing telomere selection. Paternal age influences the length of telomeres in sons and longer telomeres enhance offspring survival

Current trends in cannulation and neuroprotection during surgery of the aortic arch in Europe†‡

OBJECTIVES To conduct a survey across European cardiac centres to evaluate the methods used for cerebral protection during aortic surgery involving the aortic arch. METHODS All European centres were contacted and surgeons were requested to fill out a short, comprehensive questionnaire on an internet-based platform. One-third of more than 400 contacted centres completed the survey correctly. RESULTS The most preferred site for arterial cannulation is the subclavian-axillary, both in acute and chronic presentation. The femoral artery is still frequently used in the acute condition, while the ascending aorta is a frequent second choice in the case of chronic presentation. Bilateral antegrade brain perfusion is chosen by the majority of centres (2/3 of cases), while retrograde perfusion or circulatory arrest is very seldom used and almost exclusively in acute clinical presentation. The same pumping system of the cardio pulmonary bypass is most of the time used for selective cerebral perfusion, and the perfusate temperature is usually maintained between 22 and 26°C. One-third of the centres use lower temperatures. Perfusate flow and pressure are fairly consistent among centres in the range of 10-15 ml/kg and 60 mmHg, respectively. In 60% of cases, barbiturates are added for cerebral protection, while visceral perfusion still receives little attention. Regarding cerebral monitoring, there is a general tendency to use near-infrared spectroscopy associated with bilateral radial pressure measurement. CONCLUSIONS These data represent a snapshot of the strategies used for cerebral protection during major aortic surgery in current practice, and may serve as a reference for standardization and refinement of different approache